Somerset & Dorset Schools Competition 2026 — Winners!
Jackdaws, Somerset Music, and Dorset Music Service, on behalf of Octagon Music Hub are pleased to announce the winners of the Somerset & Dorset Schools Choir Competition 2026.
Once again all maintained/academy schools in Somerset and Dorset were invited to participate in the Schools Choir Competition, supported by Octagon Music Hub, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education.
A record breaking number of school choirs submitted two contrasting pieces to be assessed by a panel of judges with the final adjudication taking place on June 15th.
The judging panel, Caroline Radcliffe—eminent Choir Leader, and Saffron van Zwanenberg—Jackdaws Artistic Director, were delighted by the varied and enjoyable performances.
They judged the performances on the following criteria: Intonation, tone quality, diction, ensemble, balance, blend, interpretation of music and text, dynamics, phrasing and communication. The suitability and level of challenge of the chosen songs was also taken into consideration.
Overall they were very pleased with the presentation and quality of the performances. They were also very impressed by the complexity of some of the repertoire chosen with schools often singing in parts as well as unison.
There were a range of prizes from £200 to £75 which are allocated to the music budget in the winning schools, to be spent on resources, opportunities or other support for music making for the children in that school.
All of the schools that entered also received personalised feedback and a certificate.
“Gospel Medley” from Chidden Fitzpaine School Choir — BEST ROUND
Did you know that singing and choirs are a particular focus of the National Plan for Music Education?
Singing is a hugely powerful way of developing the musical skills laid out in the new model music curriculum and singing in choirs has been shown to very positively contribute to feelings of wellbeing and belonging as well.
The competition will be back next year with the closing date in the latter half of the summer term once again. Why not start planning for your choir now!
More details of support available below.THE PRIZE WINNERS!
Secondary
| Gold | Crispin School School “Show Choir” |
| Silver | Crispin School “Frozen Ensemble” |
| Bronze | Beaminster School “Beaminster School Choir” |
SEND
| Gold | Westfield Arts College “Kaleidoscope Choir” |
| Silver | Polden Bower SEND School “Bower Riverside Choir” |
| Bronze | Mountjoy SEND School “Sing and Sign Choir” |
First/Primary
| Gold | Wyke Regis C of E Junior School “Wyke Regis Junior School Choir” |
| Silver | Swanage Primary School “EYFS and KS1 Choir” |
| Bronze | Trull CE VA Primary School “Trull Primary School Choir” |
Special Prizes
| Most Dynamic Dynamics | Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School “IKB’s Year 3-5 Choir” |
| Excellent Diction | Gillingham School “Gillingham School Vocal Group |
| Most Active Action Song |
Parkfield School “KS2 Choir” |
| Great at Starting and Stopping | St Johns CofE Primary School “St John’s Choir” |
| Best Round | Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School “Chidden Choir” |
Highly Commended
- Cerne Abbas First School “Hummingbirds Choir”
- Chilthorne Domer Church School Choir
- Crispin School “Lower School Choir”
- Damers First School Choir
- Downlands Community School Choir
- Polden Bower SEND School “Porlock Class Choir”
- Shillingstone Primary School Choir
- Trinity First School “Songbirds Choir”
- Woolavington Primary School “Woolaviington Sing Stars!”
- Selworthy SEND School Choir
